The 19th Running of the Read Stakes-G2
Sunday, July 31, 2022
DMR Race #6 $250.000
3+ 119/124 Lbs 11/8 (T)
Track/Stakes Record-1:44.48 (Snippets-2009)
The Sunday showpiece at DMR will be the 19th running of the G2 Read Stakes. The 9-furlong, $250.000 contest has drawn a field of six with Droopy the only sophomore in the field. That runner will tote 119-pounds while his five elders will carry 124. Speaking of Droopy, he may be the only horse to take a graded race so far this season; however, despite the small number of runners, this is a quality group assembled here. Here’s your field for Sunday’s G2 Read Stakes:
#1 Beach Xaar (Diablo Diablo/A. Achard 124): Rail horse stays on schedule with his 7th race of ’22 after taking three of the first six. The biggest of those was the seasonal bow, but he struggled in back-to-back graded tries. Been in the allowance ranks for the last three tries and comes here off of a CD score. His two graded attempts are his worst races this season, but he’s working like he’s going to run big here.
#2 Phar Lap (Threshold/M. Franco 124): 7yo comes here off of a 5th-placed finish in the G1 Manhattan. Prior to that effort, he dropped to the claiming ranks to post his lone victory of 2022. He’s drawn well to save ground as he should tuck right in behind the one and drop back. The good news is there appears to be some pace signed-on for this; the bad news is he will need to pass them all, most likely, to take this one.
#3 Iron Nation (Nakamura Stables/E.J. Wilson 124): Former BC champion and 2020 HOY dropped into a WO allowance and wired the field in his lastest for his first victory of the season. Started his year with a couple of really good runner-up efforts in G1’s before being a non-factor in G2 Whittingham. Confidence should be boosted by that latest effort and he’s always been an extremely tough competitor in 8-9 furlong races.
#4 Hollywood Niner (Onlineracingclub.com/Ef. Hernandez 124): 6yo has fared well at SA this season as both of his wins (including a $100.000 stake) came over that turf surface. His other two races resulted in a couple close, OTB finishes. Figures to be involved from the start, and, when he’s on his game, he can prove to be difficult to get by in the lane.
#5 Droopy (Aer Stables/Mario Gutierrez 119): The field’s lone sophomore entrant, he took the G2 Dinner Party at PIM on PRK day before running 3rd in G1 BEL Derby the last time we saw him three weeks ago. He may appreciate cutting back to this 9-furlong trip (as well as the five pound weight break), and he is tactical enough to follow any instruction. Barn doesn’t run very many, but commands respect when they show up.
#6 Forty Exba (Maxmillion Farm/Ru. Gonzalez 124): 7yo horse was purchased for $25.000 after seasonal bow and immediately paid dividends for the new connections with a DH victory in a $150.000 stake at BEL. Unleashed a powerful rally to get up for the DH that day, but he’ll have to get started a little earlier here going three-furlongs shorter. Barn has a knack with these types and wouldn’t be a surprise to see him run big here.
Final Analysis: 3-5-6 is how we see them crossing the wire in the G2 Read Stakes at DMR. Good luck to all of the connections!
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
